The Lost Shinobi

This Bloody Mission

Akiko's heart was beating quickly. Why? Just days after she had been kissed. Why did this happen to her. "You'll be assigned a B-rank mission, to track down a very important person, a couple miles, in the Valley of The End, and report, is that clear?" Iruka informed her. A B-Rank? Alright then. "Yeah, I heard, I heard." "Don't be so discouraged, Akiko, it's been only a few days since I've been assigned Hokage, and you act as if I were the Old Man," Tsunade teased. It struck a nerve, "You're not him, you'll never be anything like Old Man Third."

"Akiko! Watch your mouth!" Iruka warned, but Akiko already bugged Tsunade. "You've got guts, for a kid," Tsunade sneered, then threw a pen at Akiko, who caught it a few inches from her face without any expression. "Anything else you want to say?" she replied nonchalantly, speaking to Iruka and Tsunade. "R-right, you will be assigned Jiro Yukimura and Naruto Uzumaki," Iruka stuttered. Aw, great, now this was just perfect. "Pardon me Tsunade, but, don't you think that Naruto is too immature for such a mission?" Akiko asked, fully aware of what she was saying.

"Yes, I know that Naruto can be immature, but he has the determination and ability of a true shinobi. He'll do well," Tsunade cooly replied. "Will we be given a jonin to join us?" Akiko asked. Tsunade shook her head, catching Akiko off guard. "You will be assigned a leader, and right now, that leader is you." Akiko gulped, "Me? Take care of an entire team?" "Yes, you, since you're basically at a Chunin level." Akiko blushed, she didn't really think she was prepared for a chunin level. "Now go join your team, you leave in five minutes."

Wow, she must be in a hurry. "Hai, Hokage." She walked out, not quite impressed. But, Naruto, in a B-mission? That was new, the last mission almost ended badly. ""Akiko Momochi, one day we will meet again." Itachi. He wanted to see her again. Stupid Sharingan, Stupid Uchiha, stupid...."Hey Aki!" "Stupid Naruto!" Wait, what? "Huh? Did you call me stupid?" Naruto asked. Shoot, play it cool. "Yeah, cause you are, knucklehead!" Akiko shouted. "EHHH?"Naruto was dumbfounded. This was just really really dumb.

"Don't start swinging without me," a voice called that chilled Akiko to the bone. She turned her head towards the voice. Jiro. He was smiling, nervously. "Who're you?" Naruto asked. Jiro shrugged, "The name's Jiro Yukimura, I'll be joining you in your mission." "Oh yeah the mission, but I have to ask, why do you look so familiar?" Jiro shrugged, "I must have a twin." Akiko looked away, "Alright, I guess we keep going. I'll keep a mental connection between you two, to make sure you report. Remember, our job is to track and report, do not engage in battle."

"Hai!" they both said, and the three were off. Akiko managed to see Naruto attempting to calm himself down. For such a hot-headed ninja to be told not to engage in battle, it must be stressful. "Naruto, calm down, your chakra's spiking, don't let anxiety get in the way of the mission." Naruto's eyes widened, but he calmed down, a little, "Alright, I'm okay."  Akiko sighed, "Jiro, how you holding up?" "Ever since I kissed you? Fine." "Sarcasm, very funny." "Well, you ran, right after I kissed you." "I just, wasn't prepared for a move like that." "Right." "Jiro..." "No, don't worry, after this, you won't have to be prepared for any move I make." "I didn't mean it like that." "Just forget about it."

Akiko sensed an unfamiliar chakra, someone she didn't know. "Hold up, he's close." "Right" Naruto replied. Jiro stayed quiet, he was still upset. Akiko signaled Naruto to move on the other side, and ordered Jiro to look up ahead. For the most part, Naruto did well staying quiet. Jiro was as quiet as he could be. It took the man quite a bit of time to figure out he was being followed. Akiko heard his chakra speed up, but calm down. It was quite confusing, but she could tell that they would be spotted in a few moments. He was searching for them.

"Naruto, move now!" Akiko ordered. Spying was quite difficult, no wonder this was a B-Rank Mission. Naruto shifted, which got the man's attention. "Jiro, stand ready." Akiko was ready to fight back if she needed to. "Come out already!" the man shouted. He had a mask, unlike Kakashi, it covered the man's entire face, the figure was a cat. Akiko could only see a glimpse of green eyes, and small tufts of blonde hair. Other than that, the man was under a hood, and wearing a mask. Very suspicious.